Friction sash holder



Oct. 17, 1 950 a; STEINGRUBER FRICTION SASH HOLDER Filed Oct. 21, 1948 Fig. 7.

F pended claims.

Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRICTION sAsH HOLDER George Steingruber, Atlanta, Ga.

Application October 21, 1948, Serial No. 55,759

18 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to sash holders for vertically sliding window sashes, and more partic'ularly,.to an improved sash holder of the friction type which will efiectively support the sash in any position of vertical adjustment,

without the aid of sash weights or other counterbalancing means, yet which permits the sash to be raised or lowered, as desired, with ease.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive sash holder which may be used with sliding sashes and frames of practically any construction, whether of wood, metal or other materials, and which may be easily installed, either at. the time the window structure is originally assembled, or subsequently thereto, as for existing windows to eliminate the usual counterweights, stops or other counterbalancing or holding means.

i A further object of the invention is to provide a sash holder of the friction type which may be attached tothe top or bottom edge of the sash, as the circumstances require, and which, when so attached, fits within the sash channel of the window frame in which the sash is slidably mounted, said holder including a pair of friction shoes, one of which is fixed,,and the other of which is movable and spring-pressed to normally 'yieldingly urge the latter shoe away from the fixed shoe and into frictional engagement with the sash channel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sash holder which includes "a friction shoe which is pivotally mounted for self-a1igni ing engagement with the sash' channel of. the

window frame, and which is normally yieldingly,

urged into engagement therewith, said friction shoev beingso supported that it acts to create] a limited binding action against the sash channel to an extent sufiicient to support the weight of the sash, but still permittin the sash to be moved in a downward direction by the application of a relatively small force thereto, while freely yielding to release the binding action when weights, and according to the desired ease with which theSash may be raised or lowered.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and the novelife'atures thereof defined in the ap- In the drawingi dow structure of the double-hung sash type, with certain portions of the window structure broken away and shown in section to expose the sash holders for the respective sashes, according to the present invention; v Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an en--v larged scale, as taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and showing the respective sash holders in side elevation and in more detail;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, also on an enlarged scale, as taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, through the sash holder for the lower sash; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, through the sash holder for the lower sash.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of thedrawing, wherein I generally denotes a window frame having a pair of window sashes slidably mounted therein for vertical movement thereof, the lower sash being indicated at Z and the upper sash at 3. Boththe window frame] and the sashes 2, 3, have been shown for purposes of illustration herein as a typical, conventional window structure or assembly as commonly employed for window structures of wood, but it is to be understood that the present invention is not confined to such specific structures since it is equally applicable to window structures of metal or other materials, and the details of which may differ,

materially from those referred to herein for illustrative purposes.

' According to the drawingthe window frame I,

is provided at'its opposite sides with vertically extended-stop' strips or members ,4 arranged at the, inner and. outer. faces respectively of the window frame togetherjwith an intermediatef parting strip 5, also vertically extended, at each side of the frame; The stop's'trips 4 and themtermediate parting strip 5 thus define a pair of channels, respectively-designated 6 and 1 at each side of the window frame I, for slidably receiving the window sashes therein, the upper sash 3 being slidably mounted in the. channels 6, andthe lower sash 2 being slidably mounted in the chaneach other when the lower sash 2 is moved downwardly to the limit of its downward movement against the sill IU of the frame I, and when the upper sash 3 is raised to the limit of its upward movement to fully close the same against the head I l of the window frame.

In order to support the respective sashes 2 and 3 in any position of their vertical adjustment in the window frame I, as desired when either sash is in a partially or fully opened position, I provide a sash holder for each sash, as generally indicated at I2 and i3, each sash holder being anchored to its sash near one edge of the same, and fitting in the sash channel of the window frame I in which the sash is slidable.

In the case of the lower sash 2, the sash holder I2 is attached to the upper horizontal edge of the sash near one end of the same, and in the case of the upper sash 3, the sash holder 13 is attached to the lower horizontal edge of the sash, preferably near the opposite end or the latter, as generally shown in Figure l of the drawing. However, this arrangement is not critical and may be changed if preferred, as will be obvious from the following description. V

Referring now more particularly to the details of the sash holder l2 for the lower sash 2, it will be seen that the holder includes a vertically extended plate of metal or other suitable rigid material, which is somewhat narrower than the width of the sashchannel l in which the sash 2 is'slidablyinounted. At the bottom of this plate {4, the plate isprovided with an inwardly extended ear 'or foot which is disposed perpendicularly to the plate l4 and is provided with an opening therethrough for loosely receiving a suitable anchoring member, such as a screw 16, nail, or the like, which is driven into the u per horizontal edge of thesash '2. At its upper end, the plate I' l is provided with an outwardly extended fiange IT, disposed perpendicularly to the plate f4 the extremeouter edge of said flange beingpreierably spaced'slightly from the bottom of the sash channel when the sashjholder is mounted onthe'sash 2, so that the flange -will not rub; or scrape against the window frame. Mounted on'theouter face of theplate ['4 along one edge thereof is'a fixed frictionshoe i8, said friction fshoe being composed of any suitable friction'aljmat'erial,such as wood, metal, plastic, fiber, hard rubber, or the like. I have'found, however, that a material known as Graphite Celeronfis particularly useful for the purposes of'thepresent invention, since it is relatively inexpensive, easy to .shape andmachine, has the desired friction qualities, and operates with a sihoothsliding action. Anchoring of'the 'shoe [8 togtheplate I4 may be acco mplished'in any suitablenfanner, as by means of twofor more screws {9. It will be observed that when the shoe [8 is fixed or anchored to the plate 14, one of vertical edges is extended beyond 7 the corresponding vertical edge of the plate In so that the overhanging or extended edge of the shoe is f ree to engage against the adjacent face of the parting'strip 5, thereby presenting a 'flat surfaceof substantial area was to createsufficie'nt' friction when in contactwith the parting strip 5, as necessary to sustain the weight of the window sash when the sash holder is mounted thereon.

The edge of the'fixed shoe l8 opposite to the overhanging edge above're'ferred to is preferably slotted as indicatedat 20, and one enact-a link 2 I isirisertedin the slot'2ll and is pivotally -fixed to the shoe I8, as by means of a pin or rivet 22. The opposite end of the link 2| is inserted in a corresponding slot 23 which is formed in a second shoe 24 which may be identical with the fixed shoe 18, except that the shoe 24 is free to float on the'end of the link 21 to which the shoe is pivotally connected by means of a second pin or rivet 25. The link 2| is of such length that the edge of the shoe 24 opposite to the slotted edge is always extended substantially beyond the corresponding edge of the plate I4, so that the floating shoe 24 is always free to self-align itself in parallel relation to the shoe [8 when frictionally engaged with the adjacent vertical face ofthe stop strip 4 at the side of the channel I opposite to the parting strip 5.

In order to yieldingly urge the floating shoe 24 into frictional contact with the stop stri 4, and to cause both shoes to bear against the opposite sides of the sash channel I, a spring 26 is provided, one end of said spring bearing against the intermediate portion of the link 2!, and the'oppos'iteend of the spring being held and seated in a bracket 21 suitably anchored, as by a screw 28, to the plate I'd, or otherwise formed on the plate for holding the spring 26 in an operative position. As observed in Figure 2 of the drawing, the spring "26 normally tends to urge the link 2| in a clockwise direction about the axis of Ipivotal connection of the link with the fixed shoe [8, thereby tending to move the floatingshoe 213 away from the fixed shoe I8. This movement of the floating shoe 24 may be limited by an adjusting screw 29 which is threadedly engaged in an opening in the flange H at the upper edge of thepla'te 14, with the lower 'end of the screw abutting against the upper end of the floating shoe 24. By appropriately adjusting the screw '29, the yielding action of the spring 28 maybe limited to theex'te'nt desired for holding the windowsash 2 inanyposi'tion of its vertical adjustment'in the window frame, yet permitting thesash 'to 'be "moveddownwa'rdlyby the application'of 'an'additionalforce manually applied to the sa'sh-in 'a downward direction. The pressure ofthesprin'g 2fi upon'the link 2| ,and consequent- 1y upon'the fl'oating- 'shoe 24 is assisted by the friction action created by *the shoes l8 and24, and rame particularly by the floating :shoe 2G, which tends to urge th'e-shoes againstthe vertical faces of the 'sa'sh channel '1 with a more or less w'edging action, as permitted by the screw l6 which is loose enough to allow the .holder to adjust itself 's'o thatboth shoes willengage the sash' 'channel. We'reit not for the "adjusting scre'w"29, the-heavier the window sash, 'or the harder tli'e fo'r'ce applied'downwardly to the sash, thegreater would bethe 'w'edging 'action. Howeveig the' wedg-ing action can be finally controlled by screwing in or'by backingout the screw 29, as the circumstances require, suificiently to limit the wedgin'g action, by :limitation of upward movement ofthe fi'oating'shoe '24, to a degree sufiicient' to just balance the window sash'against its o'wn'weight, while perinitting the sash tobe moved downwardly, when desired, with ease, by the application of a -light d'ownwardpressure on the w iiidowfs'ash.

fAs the 's ashf-2 is raised, it "will be clear from reference to- Figure 2 of the "drawing' that the frictional "dra on the floatings'hoe i 24 will cause the 'latter's'hoe and theleft-han d 'end of the link 2! to' "ove' doWn wai-dly' slightly, thus releasing thebi-nding or we'dgingaction 'of the shoes; and permitting the sash to be moved upwardly :with

ease. As soon as the .upwa'rd movement of the sash is discontinued, theforce of the spring 26,

will again become effective to relatively spread the shoes apart, thus re-establishing the wedging or binding action of the shoes to hold the sash firmly in the positionto which it has been raised. It is important at all times that the entire holder assembly be free to adjust. itself in .the sash channel so Ttha'tbotlr'shoes l8 and 24 will engage the opposite sides ofthe sash channel. Hence" 12, but the reference characters have been' primed in the case of holder 13. The primary difference between the holder assembly 12 and the holder assembly l3 resides in a slightly dif-- ferent arrangement of the adjusting sc'rew'which is indicated at 30 in the holder assembly l3. In

this instance, .theadjusting screw 30 loosely extends through an opening 3| in the flange I1, and the upper end of the screw 30 is threadedly engaged in a threaded opening in the adjacent end of the floating shoe 24'. Thus, by appropriately adjusting the screw 30, upward movement of the floating shoe 24' under the force of the spring 26 may be limited to the extent desired for creating onlysufiicient frictional engagement of the respective shoes with theopposite sides of the sash channel 6 as to just support ,theweight of the sash 3, while permitting the sash 3 to be easily lowered, and without causing too great a jamming or wedging action of the shoes as would otherwise occur by the frictional drag on the shoe 24 tending to urge this shoe in an upward direction and hence away from the fixed shoe l8, were it not for the presence and limiting action of the screw 30. Of course, in raising the upper sash 3, the floating shoe 24' will freely move downwardly against the force of the spring 26 so as to release the binding or wedging action of the shoes, as permitted by the freedom of movement of the screw 30 through the opening 3i. Generally speaking, the action of the sash holder [3 is identical with that of the sash holder [2.

It will be understood that while onlya single sash holder has been shown in the drawing for each sash, 'two holders may be used for each sash, if desired, one at each side of the sash to fit in the respective sash channels at the opposite sides of the window frame I. Ordinarily, however, one sash holder for each sash is sufficient, and will work effectively and smoothly as the sashes are raised and lowered.

While the specific details have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A window sash holder of the class described for sashes mounted for vertically sliding movements in the usual sash channels of a window frame, comprising a supporting frame adapted to be connected to a horizontal edge of the sash adjacent to one endthereof so as to lie within the sash channel at the corresponding side of the window frame, a pair of friction shoes mounted on said supporting frame for relative movement of one of said shoes towards and away from'theother of said shoes, and means including a link pivotally connecting said friction shoes for normally yieldingly urging said shoes away from each other and into frictional engagement with the opposite faces of. the sash channel so. 'as to hold the sash in any position OfJVertical adjustment in the window frame, with one or" the shoes free for relative movement towards the other so as to release the holding effect responsive to raising of the sash.

2. A window sash holder as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the friction shoes is fixed to the supporting frame.

' 3. A window sash holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the sash holder includes stop means for limiting relative movement of the shoes away from each other.

4. A'window sash holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the sash holder includes adjustable stop means for limiting relative movement of theshoes away from each other.

5; A window sash holder for window sashes slidably mounted in sashchannels of a window frame, comprising a supporting frame for attaching the sash holder to a sash, a friction-shoe movably mounted on said supporting frame at one edge thereof and freely shiftable laterally of the supporting frame in either direction so as to project more or less beyond the frame for frictional engagement with a wall of the sash channel in which the sash is slidably mounted, said shoe being freely pivotal aboutits mid-point so as to be automatically self-aligning with the wall of the sash channel whichit engages, and means for controlling the movementsfof said friction shoe so that the friction shoe normally tends to bind or wedge against the wall of the sash channel aforesaid to resist sliding movement of the sash in one direction, and tends to release the binding or wedging action on movement of the ments of the friction shoe includes a link having 7 a fixed pivotal connection at one end to the supporting frame and pivotally connected at its I other end to the friction shoe.

.8. A window sash holder as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the movements of the friction shoe includes a link pivotally connected at one end to the supporting frame and'pivotally connected at its other end to the friction shoe, said link being of such length that the distance along the central axis .of the link from the point of pivotal connection-of the same with the supporting frame to the sash channel I wall engaging edge of the friction shoe is always greater than the shortest; distance from said pivotal point to the shoe-engaging wall of the sash channel. k

9. A window sash holder as defined in claim 5,

wherein the means for controlling the movements. of the friction shoe includes a spring-pressed 10. A window sash holder as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the movements of the friction shoe includes a member pivotally carried by the supporting frame and connected to said friction shoe, and stop means coacting with said shoe for limiting movement of the friction shoe in one direction.

11. A window sash holder as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the movements of the friction shoe includes a member pivotally carried by the supporting frame and connected to said friction shoe, and adjustable stop means coacting with said shoe for limiting movement of the friction shoe in one direction.

12. A holder attachment for closures slidably mounted in guide channels, comprising a frame plate having means at one end for attaching the same to the closure, a pair of friction shoes carried by the frame plate at its opposite side edges and projecting beyond the edges of said frame plate for frictional engagement with the opposite faces of the guide channel in which the closure is slidably mounted, one of said friction shoes being fixed, and the other of said shoes being movable in opposite directions about a fixed center so as to permit movement of the same towards and away from the fixed shoe, yieldable means for normally urging the movable shoe away from the fixed shoe, and means for limiting the latter movement.

13. A holder attachment as defined in claim 12, wherein the fixed center of the movement of the movable shoe lies approximately at the center of the fixed shoe.

1%. A holder attachment as defined in claim 12, wherein the respective shoes are each elongated in the direction of the guide channel to provide friction surfaces of substantial area at the outer faces thereof.

15, A holder attachment as defined in claim 12, wherein the respective shoes are each elongated in the direction of the guide channel to provide friction surfaces of substantial area at the outer. faces thereof, and the movable shoe is free to self-align itself in parallel relation to the fixed shoe in all positions of movement of the former. v 7

16. A holder attachment as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for limiting movement of. the movable shoe away from the fixed shoe comprises? a screw member carried by the frame plate.

17. A holder attachment as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for limiting movement of the movable shoe away from the fixed shoe comprisesa screw member carried by the frame plate and threadedly engaged with the frame plate for adjustable abutting contact with the movable shoe.

18. A holder attachment as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for limiting movement of the movable shoe away from the fixed shoe comprises a screw member carried by the frame plate and loosel extended therethrough and into adjustable threaded engagement at one end with the movable shoe, the opposite end of the screw member having a shoulder. for abutting engagement with the frame plate.

GEORGE STEINGRUBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in' the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 270,229 Lewin Jan. 9, 1883 7 2,372,634 Breitenbach et a1. Mar. 27, 1945 

